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O's to promote veteran Garcia for Saturday's start

3/12/13: Freddy Garcia strikes out six and holds the Giants to just one run on three hits over four strong innings of work

By Brittany Ghiroli
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MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- As expected, the Orioles will promote right-hander Freddy Garcia to make Saturday's start against the Angels.

"His date fits well timing-wise," manager Buck Showalter said of Garcia, who last pitched Sunday and was named the International League Pitcher of the Week after going 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in his last two starts at Triple-A Norfolk. "That's what you look at first. The good thing is that we have a lot of guys to pick from down there that we like, so you really don't have to separate them too much."

The 36-year-old Garcia (4-0) is leading the International League in wins and has a 2.67 ERA in five starts, with 21 strikeouts and two walks over 33 2/3 innings. He agreed on Monday to extend the opt-out clause in his contract to May 14, and Showalter said the decision wasn't based on that.

"This is about that his date fell there well," he said. "I'm aware of that [opt-out]. He likes where he's at. We could have waited a couple more weeks if we wanted to."

Garcia, who has been in the Majors for 14 years, signed a Minor League deal with Baltimore after he was released by the Padres this spring, and he will have to be added to the 40-man roster. The team won't officially add him until Saturday, with right-hander Zach Clark the most likely choice to be optioned back to Triple-A.